The neon red lights of the Terra Daemonium sign shone down on me like the bright lights of a danger sign.

Stay back.

Don’t enter.

Just walk away, Sawyer.

But I ignored the little voice at the back of my mind that warned me to turn around. Instead, I squared my shoulders and tossed my hair over my shoulder, attempting to look older and more confident than my seventeen years. But even I had to admit, the Terra Daemonium Casino was a terrifying place.

The building was a huge oddly shaped thing, like a mirrored shard of blackened glass in the middle of the busy strip. Though the busy road was filled with other casinos and bars, Terra Daemonium stood out like a sore thumb. It wasn’t that it was flashy looking, no, just the opposite in fact. It’s dark red and black appearance and peculiar visitors were what made it so appealing. It was like a little piece of hell that had somehow migrated to our land: something about that devilish seduction and promise of danger made it so very intriguing.

I walked closer to the doors and as I did so, the loud voices, laughter and music of the strip muted until it was nothing more than a dull hum in the background. The monsterous set of black double doors were flanked by a tall muscular guard with midnight dark skin and a broad, stocky appearance.

“Hello”, I greeted as I walked towards him.

The guard looked me up and down and scoffed.

“This isn’t the place for you, kid”, He grunted.

I swallowed hard and resisted the urge to turn away. I had to get inside there and speak to him. No matter what.

“I’m not here to gamble-“

The guard cut me off, his voice half menace half taunting laughter.

“Everyone’s here to gamble. It’s a casino after all”.

I gritted my teeth and tried again, already annoyed at being cut off.

“I’m here to get my dad. He’s in the casino”, I explained, placing my hands on my hips and holding my chin up high.

This time the guard actually did let out a bark of laughter.

“If your dad isn’t out of there yet, he clearly isn’t done. Wait for him out here, kid.”, the guard replied, crossing his arms.

A ripple of light from the headlights of a passing car suddenly came into view, the bright beam bouncing on the guards face for a sliver of time. For a second I saw his features shift, like the mask he was wearing slipped out of place. I squinted my eyes and examined him closer. Slowly, bits and pieces of his features changed, revealing the creature behind his glamour.

I had originally thought his skin was just dark and made more shadowed by the night, but upon closer inspection it appeared his skin was blue-black, shifting like the night sky itself. From his shoulders protruded sharp horns, all waning in slightly towards his neck, and his arms and neck were a mass of tendons and muscle. Two curled horns, like rams horns, sprung from his head, glowing an almost silvery white.

I gasped and backed away slightly, fear gripping my heart in its taloned fist. I knew Terra Daemonium was a casino run by demons, but I never expected to see one in its true form. The sight was scarier than I imagined, dark and wicked.

But it was also so very intriguing.

My hands shook at my sides and I stuffed them into my jacket pockets to hide them.

The guard smiled as he caught sight of the movement . It was as if he found my sudden fear and unease amusing.

“Everything okay, little girl? Cerberus got your tongue?”

I bristled at his remark and frowned, irritation painting my tone as I spoke.

“Just let me see him. It’s urgent”

“What could be so urgent that you couldn’t just wait for him to return?”

I considered the question, wondering if I should tell him the truth. For starters, waiting for my father wasn’t really an option. He’d been in the casino for three days now, and there’s no telling when he’d decide to get out. But it’s seemed the only way to get the guard to let me in was to tell him the truth.

I took a deep breath and released it slowly.

“It’s my mom- she’s missing. She’s been missing for three days now without a trace”, I confessed.

The guard frowned. “You sure she’s not out having some fun on her own?”.

I shook my head. “Thats unlike her. She missed her own mothers funeral yesterday. She’d never do that. Please, I need to see my dad”, I choked out . I could feel tears of desperation prickling the corners of my eyes and my skin felt flushed and nervous.

An almost sympathetic expression crossed the guards face and he sighed. He pulled the door open and held it with his elbow.

“Five minutes, kid. In and out. Don’t talk to anyone”

I nodded my head quickly at his words, glad he was finally letting me in.

“I’m serious. Just get your dad and leave. Don’t talk to anyone and don’t agree to any games, you hear?”

“I get it”, I snapped, eager to get in. I realized my error and softened my voice, smiling at the guard graciously.

“Thanks”

I ducked my head and slipped under his arm, finally entering the casino.

It was dark and it took my eyes a while to adjust, but when they did all I could do was stare wide eyed at the opulent room.

The deep burgundy carpets that covered the floor were plush and rich, and the walls were covered in embossed black wallpaper. All around the room there were brightly lit machines and poker tables laden with colourful chips and die.

My eyes swept across the room greedily, taking in the odd assortment of patrons and the golden chandeliers that cast a red- orange glow on everything in the room. The place was massive as is, but two more balconies that were visible up above showed that there were even more floors in the place.

Most of the people looked human enough, but others looked otherworldly and strange. Skin in shades of red, snow-white and deep blue, large black eyes, and massive coiled horns were just a few of the odd features that caught my eye.

As I navigated my way through the room some people inclined towards me curiosly, while others ignored me entirely. It was an odd experience being both invisible and being the centre of attention.

“Care for a game? Something tells me you’d be good at cards”

I looked up quickly in the direction of the voice and came face to face with a tall figure with milky white skin. Long strands of grey hair sprouted from its head and it’s eyes were black, no white sclera in sight.

I shook my head nervously, scared at the prospect of interacting with the stranger.

“Um n-no thanks”, I stuttered, backing away from the stranger.

“Aw, why not sweets?”, the stranger asked, placing a bone white taloned hand on my shoulder. I shook away their touch and stepped back.

“I- sorry”, I mumbled turning and walking away quickly.

My eyes rifled through the room, looking for my fathers familiar dark hair and beard. This place scared me, and not just because of the appearance of its guests. This casino, while it did deal with the exchange of money and goods occasionally, dealt in many other things too. Some people would bargain with the days they had left to live, their loved ones, and other abstract possessions. Some were so addicted to gambling in this place that they often sold their souls in exchange for the high of playing on those jittery machines or rolling the dice. It was exactly the type of place I expected my father to be in. He never was good with self control nor did he understand the value of a human life.

I heard footsteps behind me and felt a hand grip my shoulder. I spun around quickly and saw the same white skinned creature from before.

“I said I didn’t want to play”, I said in a rush, that familiar caution seeping back in.

The creature waved its hand.

“That’s fine. You seemed a little young anyway. What’s a kid like you doing in a place like this? Why would Knox let you in?”

I assumed that Knox was the guard from outside. I recited the same speech about looking for my father and my missing mother that I explained earlier, not in the mood for elaborate lies or conversation.

The creature frowned, thick white brows knitting.

“Oh, honey. You said your father was a regular here?”

I nodded my head, a trickle of unease slipping down my spine. Why was the creature looking at me with that expression? Like they felt sorry for me.

“Do you know what they deal in here? It’s not money or material possessions. It’s souls and lives. Things that are worth so much more”, the creature explained, black eyes reflecting the glow of the machines as they roamed the room.

“Yeah, every one knows that about Terra Daemonium”, I said confused. What this demon was telling me wasn’t anything I already didn’t know. Everyone knew what the casino was, it was part of what made it so thrilling.

“Did you ever consider that your father……”, the creature trailed off, looking at me with that same sympathetic look that the guard had given me.

“My father, what?”, I pressed, leaning closer to hear them.

“That he used your mother as leverage for a game and lost. Perhaps her soul was retrieved by our staff”, the creature finished.

My eyes widened at the creatures words. I felt the room around me sway and spin, the bright lights and noise suddenly overwhelming . I felt nauseous as I considered the statement. My father wouldn’t do that…..would he?

“Wh-what?”

The creature brushed one of its long fingers against my cheek, the touch soft and featherlike.

“I’m sorry honey, if that’s the case, she’s not coming back. If you haven’t seen your father in 3 days like you said, I’m afraid he’s likely not coming back either. But you, honey pie, are free to stay. My offer still stands: wanna play a game?”